Jordan's brow peaks with concern. 1996? But that gave him 14 years until the contamination. No wonder Dr. Merrick and the community announcer always said they were special; maybe a lie was the only reason the staff could accept their positions.

"It's not the end of the world," she reassures him. "There are many people who are special and survive. And there's the Island, too. It's safe and clean. No contamination. You can do whatever you like there. Not everything is hopeless. It's good to believe that things can get better--because they will, really."